January 19, 2012   An increasing number of universities are banning tobacco use on campus in an effort to promote a healthier environment for students. According to the American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation (ANRF), there are now at least 639 universities nationwide that have established policies for completely smoke-free campuses. The City Colleges of Chicago, consisting of seven campuses, is just one of the university systems that recently announced their plans to go tobacco-free. The UC system is the most recent university system to adopt a campus-side tobacco ban, which is causing quite a stir. An editorial in the Los Angeles Times argued that, “forbidding smoking in outdoor areas where it doesn’t pose any particular health or safety risks goes too far.” However, students at the University of California, Los Angeles chapter of Colleges Against Cancer don’t necessarily see policy as infringing on students’ rights. According to the American Cancer Society, close to 3,400 lung cancer deaths occur each year as a result of secondhand smoke.

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